Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

Jyotiṣa-śāstra Saṅgraha: Threefold Division, Gaṇita Methods, Muhūrta, and Planetary Reckoning

Devanagari script

लवा लवघ्नाश्च हरा हरघ्ना हि सवर्णनम् । भागप्रभागे विज्ञेयं मुने शास्रार्थचिंतकैः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

lavā lavaghnāśca harā haraghnā hi savarṇanam | bhāgaprabhāge vijñeyaṃ mune śāsrārthaciṃtakaiḥ || 22 ||

Translation

O sage, the terms ‘lava’ and ‘lavaghnā’, and likewise ‘harā’ and ‘haraghnā’, are to be understood as names of the same class (akin and equivalent). Those who contemplate the meaning of the śāstras should recognize this especially in the context of fractions and sub-fractions.

Word by Word

• लवाः: fractions/parts (lavāḥ)
• लवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• लव-घ्नाः: multipliers of fractions
• लव-घ्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लव (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘fraction-multipliers’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• हराः: divisors
• हराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हर-घ्नाः: multipliers of divisors
• हर-घ्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘divisor-multipliers’

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (indeed/for)

• सवर्णनम्: homogenization/making like (same-denominator)
• सवर्णनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (state of being like/with same class)

• भाग-प्रभागे: in division and subdivision
• भाग-प्रभागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (copulative): ‘in division and sub-division’

• विज्ञेयम्: should be known
• विज्ञेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• शास्त्र-अर्थ-चिन्तकैः: by those who reflect on scriptural meaning
• शास्त्र-अर्थ-चिन्तकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला: ‘thinkers of the meaning of scripture’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-śāstra context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes śāstric precision: understanding subtle distinctions (and equivalences) in terminology trains the mind for disciplined inquiry, which supports jñāna and mokṣa-oriented study.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Indirectly: bhakti is strengthened when ritual, recitation, and study are done with correct understanding; the verse models careful attention to śāstra so devotion is not careless or confused.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, Vedanga-adjacent point (Vyākaraṇa/śāstra-nirṇaya): how certain unit-terms are treated as equivalent/synonymous when discussing fractional divisions (bhāga, prabhāga).